Extreme Day Trip to Pisa from UK: Ultimate Travel Guide 2025

Pisa is an ideal location for an extreme day trip from the UK, offering a bucket-list travel experience packed into just one day. With direct flights and fast and convenient airport transfers, you can enjoy a quick adventure exploring iconic landmarks, sampling authentic Italian cuisine, and soaking up Tuscan culture, all without booking days off at work and spending money on accommodation.

If you’re worried about spending money on taxis or other transportation options you don’t need to worry, as you can easily walk all of this itinerary. Pisa is a top choice for adventure travellers seeking history and culture and those want a short travel itinerary.

Pisa is a great destination for those that have already visited the near by cities like Dublin and want to be more adventurous.

Aim to land in Pisa between 9:00–10:00 am and depart after 8:00 pm. This gives you a full day to explore without needing a hotel. When making a plan, be sure to add some time onto your itinerary for when you land, as there may be queues to get through passport control.

Galileo Galilei Airport is just 2 km from Pisa’s city center. If you want to get straight to the centre and start sightseeing use the Pisa Mover shuttle train. The train takes you to Pisa Centrale train station in 3 – 5 minutes.  A single ticket costing €6.50 and a return €13 . It runs every 5–10 minutes from 6:00 am to midnight.

Alternatively, you can walk from the airport to the city center in about 20–30 minutes, enjoying the outskirts of Pisa along the way.

From Pisa Centrale, it’s about a 20-minute walk (1.5 km) to the Leaning Tower, passing through charming streets and local shops. The city is flat and easy to navigate on foot.

Start your day with a stroll along the River Arno, Pisa’s scenic waterway lined with pastel buildings and lively promenades. It is along the way to the leaning tower of Pisa.

Be sure to visit Santa Maria della Spina, a stunning Gothic church perched on the riverbank, famous for its intricate facade and peaceful setting. Mountains can be seen in the background making it for a lovely photograph.

• Why Visit: It’s one of Pisa’s architectural gems and offers a tranquil start to your day.
• Price: Free entry.
• Time Needed: 20–30 minutes.
• Distance from Pisa Centrale: 10-minute walk (0.7 km)

Pisa’s main shopping street, perfect for a stroll, restaurants, architecture photography and people-watching.

• Estimated Time: 30 minutes
• Price: Free (shopping extra)
• Distance from Ponte di Mezzo: 4-minute walk (0.3 km)

Renaissance square with historic buildings, including the Scuola Normale Superiore. It was considered a political heart of medieval Pisa. Considered the second most important and attractive square in Pisa after the Piazza dei Miracoli.

• Estimated Time: 30–60 minutes
• Price: Free (museum entry extra if open)
• Distance from Corso Italia: 6-minute walk (0.5 km)

One of Europe’s oldest botanical gardens, featuring rare plants and peaceful paths.

• Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
• Price: €4–€5
• Distance from Piazza dei Cavalieri: 7-minute walk (0.6 km)

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is Pisa’s crown jewel, home to the Leaning Tower, Cathedral (Duomo), Baptistery, and Camposanto Monumentale. The square is world-famous for its unique architecture and history, and it’s the perfect spot for the iconic “holding up the tower” photo.

• Distance from Botanical Garden: 4-minute walk (0.3 km)

Various ticket options:

• Leaning tower & cathedral only: Costing around €20 and depending on the time of the year, will take about 30–45 minutes to queue, climb and enjoy views.
• Baptistery or Camposanto or Opera Museum, or Sinample Museum with a free cathedral visit: €8 on it’s own and will take about 15-30 minutes each.
• Full ticket which allows you to visit all of the sites – Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto Monumental Cemetery, Opera del Duomo Museum, and Museo delle Sinopie, costs around €27
• Half ticket which includes all of the above except for Leaning tower and Opera Museum costs around €11.
• For more information and up to date prices visit the official site.

Travel Tip: Admission to the Cathedral is with free pass. If you buy any ticket you get a free pass to visit the Cathedral, not subjected to a fixed time.

Military museum dedicated to Italian airborne troops, with exhibits on history and equipment.

• Estimated Time: 30–45 minutes

• Price: Free or small donation (confirm locally)

• Distance from Botanical Garden: 1 km

• Fast, direct flights from the UK make Pisa a top pick for last-minute travel and spontaneous city breaks
• The city’s compact size and rich history offer a high-impact travel experience in just one day
• Pisa is a gateway to the best of Tuscany, with easy connections to beaches, medieval towns, and other extreme day trip destinations such as Florence

Spending the night in Pisa offers a unique and peaceful experience, especially after the daytime crowds have left.  At night, the square becomes quiet, allowing for serene walks and a chance to appreciate the architectural details without the usual hustle.

A quick overnight stay in Pisa lets you savor the city at a relaxed pace—starting with a calm evening visit to the iconic sights, a night in a cozy hotel, and a fresh morning to enjoy a quiet walk or a coffee by the river before departing.

Commemorate your extreme day trip or weekend getaway with our souvenirs and keepsakes.

Extending your trip from Pisa to Florence makes an excellent addition to your short getaway. Florence is easily accessible from Pisa by train, making it a convenient and efficient option for travellers with more time and budget.

Trains run frequently between Pisa Centrale and Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station. The journey takes between 50 minutes to over an hour. This means it is very possible to fly to Pisa and visit Florence instead, or combine it with Pisa as a short weekend getaway. Although I would suggest at least 3 days for Florence if you love museums and history, as there are plenty of them and require quite a bit of time each.

The central location of Florence’s main train station means you are just steps away from major the world-renowned Renaissance art, historic attractions, restaurants, and vibrant city life, again no need to use taxis or buses. Florence makes a great extension for your trip with easy, affordable, and fast train connections make it for an easy weekend escape.

• Estimated Time: 1 hour by train
• Price: €9–€15 one way